30 Minutes of Music Each Day Lowers Blood Pressure

Italian researchers presenting study results at this week’s American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans reported that listening to 30 minutes or more of music each day could substantially lower blood pressure.

In a study involving 48 people aged 45 to 70 years with mild hypertension, researchers found that those who listened to Celtic, Indian or classical music for half an hour each day for one month showed significant reductions in blood pressure. 

"Listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient-reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure," wrote lead researcher Dr. Pietro A. Modesti of the University of Florence in Italy, in a  statement from the meeting.

"But for the first time, today’s results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ambulatory blood pressure."

Ambulatory blood pressure refers to measurements repeated over the course of a day. Doctors consider healthy blood pressure to be below 140/90 mmHG.

During the study, 28 participants listened to 30 minutes of “rhythmically homogenous” classical music, Indian or Celtic music daily while performing controlled breathing exercises. The remaining participants functioned as a control group and made no changes to their daily routines.

Blood pressure readings measured one and four weeks later showed that the participants’ systolic blood pressure, the top number in the blood pressure reading, was significantly lower in the music listeners. In contrast, the control group experienced only minor, non-significant blood pressure reductions. On average, the blood pressure among those who listened to music decreased by 3 mmHG at one week and 4 mmHG at one month, compared with those in the control group.  

"We are excited about the positive implications for both patients and physicians, who can now confidently explore music listening as a safe, effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to therapy," Modesti told Reuters.

"Sadly, despite the global focus on prevention, it is predicted that 56 billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by 2025," he said.

"In light of these devastating statistics, it is reassuring to consider that something as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing, may help people naturally lower their blood pressure."

But the researchers aren’t suggesting anyone substitute breathing exercises and music for their medicine. Instead, they say, "easy and enjoyable daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing may help people naturally lower their blood pressure.”

"Further studies are needed to confirm the effect in the long term," Modesti said.

The researchers also found that other non-drug therapies, such as restricting salt intake, exercising and limiting on alcohol consumption, had about the same effect on blood pressure.

Hypertension is believed to affect one in three adult in the United States.  Many don’t know they have the condition, which can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and other problems.